Some new pics of the tank (week 4 of cycling)

That's true, and it's what happens in a natural system, but most tanks don't really achieve this in any meaningful significance. You have to explicitly set your tank up to do this... and there are just easier/safer ways to do it (such as an ATS or refugium) where you can export the nitrate once it is incorporated into living tissue. Or by chemical means.

 

So I'm wasting my time lol? I'm a week into my cycle and I'm trying to go as natural as possible. I'm trying to let the nitrates naturally break down. I know it will take a long time, but any suggestions?

 

You could run a refugium, which is pretty natural... it keeps the nutrients down but not "ultra low". You don't have to have bacteria do all the work. Conversely, you could run biopellets which would have the bacteria incorporating the nitrate into themselves. The actual denitrifying has some pretty big drawbacks to it (like production of hydrogen sulfide, which can nuke your tank).

 

Exactly, often times it comes on hermits and snails anyway. My tank is loaded with coralline and it's only 6 months old. i never really went out of the way to add it.

 

Maybe I'll go grab like a 3-5lb piece loaded with coralline no it or something to help kickstart it in my tank..

 

I took some scrapings of it from my old tank... turned off the return pump for an hour and dumped it into the new 90 gallon tank. I've got a host of sections starting up. Oddly enough... near the overflow ><

 

I ordered Dr Tims 1 and only and it will arrive tomorrrow, quick question though...

Do I just dump the entire 8 oz bottle into my DT in one shot..?

 

Anyone?

 

Please don't add any additives to the tank !!! Let it all do it naturally !!!

 

Oh you already ordered it!! I guess I'm too late : /